When Kiryu’s story “ended” in Yakuza 6, it left me in absolute tatters. A faked loss of life lastly noticed him free of the shackles of the yakuza with one massive catch: he could not ever see his household once more. Since then, we have had the plucky Ichiban tackle the mantle of Tojo Clan nastiness in Yakuza: Like A Dragon (7), with its sequel Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth (8) set to clean up on Hawaii’s shores subsequent 12 months. What will we learn about Infinite Wealth? Kiryu is about to return as a protagonist alongside Ichiban, with an all-new haircut. And extra importantly, what has Like A Dragon Gaiden received to do with any of this? Nicely, it is a shorter stop-gap between the occasions of Yakuza 6 and Yakuza 8 that fills us in on what Kiryu’s been as much as this entire time.
However except for moreish minigames and a improbable Agent persona with web-slinging talents, Kiryu’s epilogue is a far cry from Yakuza’s greatest tales. Under no circumstances is it dangerous, it simply is not one of the best introduction to the collection for newcomers, and even longtime followers will battle balancing his resurrection with its heavy emotions of repetition.
LIKE A DRAGON GAIDEN | Opening Cinematic Theme Music “Katatoki” | Yojiro Noda x J.I.D
Since his “loss of life”, Kiryu now works as an agent of the ruthless Daidoji faction having adopted a brand new codename Joryu. Kiryu does their soiled work they usually hold him within the shadows with a roof over his head… and a knife nestled in his backbone. In fact, Kiryu will get caught up in a shady Daidoji deal that steers itself in the direction of an unsurprising reality: wahey, the yakuza are concerned! For newcomers, temporary flashbacks to Yakuza 6’s ending and a few references to LAD assist add a smidge of context to Kiryu’s story up to now. However as somebody who’s performed each Yakuza sport, Gaiden looks like a rebirth that may’t capitalise on Kiryu’s turbulent previous as a clan chief and father determine (see additionally: fishing legend, taxi driver king, the record goes on).
Positive, all through Gaiden’s story newcomers will come to understand Kiryu’s legacy by means of doing – a.okay.a. pounding a gang of goons into the concrete with a Raleigh bicycle. And as factions double-cross one another you may be taught – or be reminded of – Kiryu’s values. All of it, although, is wrapped up in a story that is light-weight by design and lacks a lot of what makes a mainline Yakuza story soar. There is definitely a way of pressure that separates it from the remainder of the collection right here, as your fundamental squeezes aren’t afraid to ditch the chummy pats on the again for a crack of the handler whip at any second. However your involvement in all of it is backed by such a unfastened menace that you just’re by no means satisfied will truly materialise. Do not count on it to construct a way of group or flip to deep household ties, for instance. Extra importantly, although, it by no means finds any actual cause why Kiryu ought to be making this sort of comeback.
Whereas there’s some basic setpieces, like busting by means of a number of workplace flooring and clattering lads with sofas, Gaiden has Kiryu remedy virtually each drawback together with his fists. Earlier than you come at me with, “However is not that Yakuza?!”, I would argue that it isn’t, truly. In streamlining Gaiden as a stop-gap, it is portrayed Kiryu – and the collection as an entire, truly – as simplistic to newcomers and as a step again for longtime followers.
Early on, for instance, you may meet the plucky Akame, an info dealer who grants you entry to the Akame Community, a set of facet missions and minor fetch quests that’ll grant you cash and Akame Factors. These substitute Yakuza’s conventional facet missions that kickstart whenever you cross paths with individuals, and act a bit just like the facet instances in Yakuza spin-off Judgment. Once more, many of those are enjoyable additions that provide a breather from the story, however they lack the standard emotional weight or bonkers twists of the remainder of the collection. They usually at all times race to a conclusion, and that conclusion is at all times a struggle. Assured.
Gone is the good stability between Kiryu having to hold a number of ice cream cones throughout a busy intersection with out getting obliterated by a Toyota, after which, like, participating in a faction struggle. There is not any pretending to be a movie director by making snap selections on whether or not to “Get Goofy” or not, or guiding a bubble-covered man from a rest room stall to a garments retailer, all whereas dodging swimming pools of water. For me, that is what actually makes a Yakuza sport, and with out it Gaiden can not help however really feel quite diminished by comparability.
That mentioned, I do reckon Gaiden’s streamlining has ended up lending its fundamental facet actions some additional weight on the similar time, to not point out supplying you with a neater route into making massive bucks. Cash and Akame Factors will be poured into upgrading Kiryu’s talents or shopping for components in your Pocket Circuit Racers or financing sexy chats with hostesses. Cash flows simply in Gaiden, which makes it straightforward to get hooked on grinding out Akame’s missions and investing in your favorite issues, one among my faves being on a dodgy boat.
Nestled within the centre of a big barge is the Fortress (Ed: excuse me, sir…). Followers will draw rapid comparisons to the collection’ Purgatory – a hub of flashing lights and debauchery, dwelling to a on line casino, a playing corridor, carts pulled by precise people, and the colosseum. It is right here the place I spent a frankly unhealthy period of time. A few of it was mandated by the principle story, however most of it was off my very own again as a result of it made my mind really feel fuzzy and reworked fights into dream sequences I by no means thought would occur in a Yakuza sport. Except for the standard ranked matches the place you climb from bronze to gold and so forth, it has a mode the place you possibly can construct a military of as much as 10 fighters and struggle alongside them in chaotic battles.
I can’t let you know how thrilling it was to degree up my outdated buddies Majima and Taiga. To recruit cult leaders from the previous that will heal my buddies! To earn sufficient cash to get launched to Rooster Man and watch him draw an uzi from his pocket and drop a complete squad of goons by himself! Full an Akame quest and you may unlock Saito and his bro from Judgment, then see them within the fighter’s lounge chilling pre-fight. Critically, you possibly can even play as any of those fan-faves, and it is all pushed by incomes cash, incomes ranges, and upping your Akame Factors. All the pieces feeds into all the things neatly, that means you at all times really feel such as you’re progressing in the direction of incomes new ranks and, excitingly, particular fights the place you finally earn the appropriate to tackle The 4 Kings of the Colosseum. Sure, it is principally fan service, and sure, it is a disgrace it is under no circumstances associated to the principle story, however what can I say? Right here, Yakuza’s massive, bizarre beating coronary heart does stay on in some respect.
Equally, as a lot as I do assume there’s an excessive amount of preventing in Gaiden, I am unable to say I ever received bored by Kiryu’s new Agent preventing fashion (the opposite being his regular Yakuza slug fest). A number of battles happen on a much bigger scale right here with a great deal of goons, Colosseum included, and Agent feels constructed to deal with them with fashion. It’s kind of James Bond-meets-very-buff-Spider-Man, the place you’ve got received wires you possibly can undertaking out of your palms that may maintain a great deal of them in place, or ship them flying with a fast flick of the wrist. Chuck cigarettes on the ground they usually’ll act like bombs, whereas holding down the dash button will activate your rocket footwear. Pile into enemies with jets ejecting out of your Oxfords they usually’ll tumble like skittles.
I would say the web-slinging Spider gadget is one of the best of the bunch, because the others aren’t fairly as impactful on their very own. Use all of them in fast succession, nonetheless, they usually’re a very good snort mixed with Agent’s snappier, extra technical punches and kicks. It gives the look that Kiryu’s honed a “Do not even strive it” fashion of his personal over the numerous years he is battered lads on the road.
In the end, although, nice Colosseum fights, typically humorous Akame missions, and occasional story wins cannot fairly make up for Like A Dragon Gaiden feeling like a hurried excuse to resurrect Kiryu. Sure, it ties into his upcoming function in Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth and it is pretty to be in his footwear once more, however the story pales compared to earlier choices. Motoring between countless fights within the sport’s story does not symbolize what Yakuza stands for, and all through I could not assist however wrestle with the concept that it is perhaps erasing not simply Kiryu’s personal identify, however the collection’ wider legacy.
This overview relies on a overview construct of the sport offered by publishers Sega.
